We have already written a couple of posts about Positive Train Control, which the CEO of Metrolink described as “perhaps the most important safety innovation in our lifetime”. (The first article explained how Positive Train Control can prevent several types of deadly train accidents and the delays in implementing it. …
Under a 2010 law, cruise lines are required to report to the FBI allegations of only eight serious crimes including homicide, suspicious death, missing U.S. national, theft of money or property in excess of $10,000, kidnapping, certain sexual offenses, assault with serious bodily injury, firing or tampering with the vessel. …
While the numbers are only preliminary, the Tennessee Department of Safety has released the statistics on crash fatalities for Tennessee in 2013. The news is wonderful: traffic fatalities dropped from 1015 in 2012 to 988 in 2013. That is 27 families who did not suffer the pain and turmoil of losing…
After seventy-degree days and tornado warnings, we have finally hit a patch of chilly temperatures. And so, many folks will use space heaters to ward off the cold. If you use a space heater, here are some facts you should know (as published by the National Fire Protection Association): Half…
It is that time again. Time to assess our lives and look for ways to improve in the new year. While losing weight is usually the most popular resolution, we wanted to give you some things to consider from a legal perspective. 1. Evaluate your uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage. I know. …
On December 19, 2013, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of the Playtex Hip Hammock because in some carriers the buckles on the straps are prone to breaking which poses a fall hazard to the infant in the carrier. To date, there have been 87 reports of the buckles…
On December 11, 2013, Ikea recalled its wall-mounted lamps because the cords can be pulled into cribs creating a strangulation hazard. Tragically, a 16-month old child has died as result of strangulation from the cord and a 15-month old child was nearly strangled by the cord. The lamps are designed for…
The federal government has prohibited 52 bus companies found to be unsafe from continuing to do business. Operation Quickstrike, launched by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a part of the United States Department of Transportation, targeted bus companies in 22 states that were found to have engaged in unsafe…
On December 3rd, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for Crown Boiler home heating boilers. In the event of a blockage in the vent system, the air pressure switch on the gas-fired hot water boilers can fail allowing the hot water boiler to emit an excessive amount of carbon…
Let’s start this discussion with how the law handles sudden emergencies. Tennessee law recognizes that a driver faced with an unexpected or sudden emergency which calls for immediate action is unlikely to exercise the same good judgment as a driver who is operating his vehicle under normal circumstances. In the past,…